Workplaces can provide EV charging for their employees, customers, and visitors to boost revenue and reduce business costs. However, EV chargers vary in power output, charging capacity, and connectivity features.
Knowing which solution is right for your business will ensure the highest ROI on your EV charging investment.
Consider Your Needs
When considering EV charging options for your business, you must first consider the overall EV charging strategy you want to execute. This includes your business goals and how you want to offer EV charging as a service, whether as an employee benefit or a paid customer-facing service.
From there, you can consider the needs of your current and future customers. This includes deciding between flat-fee or metered pricing models, assessing the average dwell time for your customer base, and determining how many EV drivers you can accommodate with your EV charging station power output.
EV chargers come in three different power levels, measured by kilowatts (kW), and it’s crucial to assess your business’s requirements and plan accordingly. For example, a company with high utilization may require Level 2 chargers to enable speedy top-offs for employees and customers who want to drive EVs. A Level 3 DC fast charger may be needed for businesses with heavier fleets and commuter traffic to support longer trips or rapid charge times.
Once you’ve determined your power needs, a hardware-agnostic EV charging management system (CSMS) can help you find compatible EV chargers from various manufacturers. It’s also worth considering whether you’d like to join a charging network to provide more access points and to gain the benefits of payment processing, remote monitoring, and more.
Look for User-Friendly Features
Many workplaces are starting to embrace EV charging as more than just a convenience for their employees and customers. They’re using it as a powerful branding tool, customer satisfaction generator, and searchable feature for their businesses. But choosing the right EV charging solution to meet your needs and goals is essential.
Advanced EV charging station software is more than just the hardware that connects to your electricity grid. It offers intelligence to optimize charging schedules, balance loads, integrate with renewable energy sources, and automate tasks that can drain employee time and resources. Choose a solution that offers these features, as well as the flexibility to manage multiple styles of EV chargers and to scale up or down as needed for optimum performance.
Consider the available payment system options if you charge for EV charging. Some EV charging solutions have built-in payment systems, while others require a separate third-party payment processing solution. Depending on local and state rebate programs and utility offerings, you’ll also need to determine whether you want to own the stations or have them maintained by a third party.
For optimal user satisfaction, look for EV charging stations with clear instructions and intuitive interface designs. Consider integrating them with mobile apps to allow EV drivers to monitor and control charging sessions and provide real-time status updates for users and the power grid.
Think About Scalability
When considering the EV charging needs of your business, it’s crucial to consider how you’ll scale your infrastructure. For example, do you want EV charging as an employee benefit or as a paid service for visitors and clients that generates revenue? Once you know your business model, you can select the proper hardware and services for your workplace.
If you aim to grow your EV charging offerings, choosing a solution that can be easily upgraded as the demand grows is critical. This can be accomplished by deploying additional station hardware and maximizing the use of your initial equipment through policies and tools administered through software. Investing in a scalable charging solution will save you the hassle and expense of tearing up your parking lot and replacing chargers when you need to increase capacity.
You’ll also need to ensure that your EV charging offering offers the best possible user experience to attract and retain EV drivers. This includes providing convenient and reliable connectivity, as well as a variety of payment options. In addition, ensuring that your customer support team is prepared to handle inquiries and issues is essential to ensuring that your EV charging network always operates at peak performance.
Consider Energy Management
Businesses are quickly shifting to electric vehicles to improve their sustainability footprints and attract employees looking for a greener way to commute. Workplace EV Charging can be a great way to offer this benefit as part of your employee recruiting and retention strategies.
When choosing the right EV charging solution for your business, assess your energy requirements and the number of vehicles in your fleet. Then, look at the power output and charging time to ensure you have a solution that will meet your needs and support future growth.
Next, opt for a scalable EV charging system that can grow with your fleet without expensive electrical grid or infrastructure upgrades. This can help you avoid high demand charges and keep your operational costs low over time. Additionally, look for advanced connectivity features that allow you to manage and monitor EV charging remotely to optimize your operation.
Conclusion
It’s also worth considering a solution that offers load management to reduce energy consumption, especially for commercial properties with multiple EV charging stations. This feature helps control the demand of your chargers so you don’t exceed a certain threshold, which protects the hardware and maintains service stability. This is an essential feature for hotels, offices, restaurants, and other commercial properties with EV charging.
